Board Chair Dr. Matt Oliva Wins Humanitarian Award
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has selected Cure Blindness Project Board Chair and 27-year Cure Blindness Project volunteer Dr. Matthew Oliva as recipient of its 2026 AAO Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award.
The humanitarian award recognizes individuals or organizations for extraordinary efforts in promoting human welfare, alleviating suffering, and championing social justice. This honor celebrates those whose selfless actions and volunteerism make a profound, measurable difference in the lives of the underprivileged or those affected by crises. It acknowledges those who have performed above and beyond the typical duties of an ophthalmologist.
Dr. Oliva’s first exposure to international ophthalmology was as a medical student at the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1996 working in rural Tanzania with Johns Hopkins University doing trachoma and glaucoma research. Two years later, he reached out to Cure Blindness Project co-founder Dr. Geoff Tabin.
Oliva worked alongside Tabin in Nepal and northern India at large surgical outreaches treating cataract blindness. “That’s when my lightbulb turned on,” he recalls. “This is what I want to do with my life.” Oliva has worked with the global non-profit that works to end avoidable blindness ever since. He currently travels quarterly to volunteer.
Dr. Oliva leads clinical operations in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somaliland for Cure Blindness Project as well as teaching residents from the countries where Cure Blindness Project works. These efforts are strengthening current health systems working towards self-sustainability.
Last year, Cure Blindness Project celebrated its most impactful year to date with 315,000 sight-restoring surgeries. Founded as Himalayan Cataract Project, Cure Blindness Project today celebrates more than 30 years of restoring sight. What began in Nepal has grown into a global effort reaching more than 30 countries through high-quality eye care, education, and the development of world-class eye care infrastructure. Together with partners, Cure Blindness Project has provided more than 2 million sight-restoring surgeries and screenings and basic care to more than 20 million people. Dr. Oliva has personally performed over 50,000 cataract surgeries.
Describing his more than 27 years with Cure Blindness Project as “exhilarating, meaningful and challenging”, Dr. Oliva is thankful for the opportunity to do this work that fulfills “why I wanted to be a doctor.”
